8 An-chan Likes Snacks

I don't think we're expecting any visits. I went to open the door, looking through the visor, there were three people I knew.

'It must be because of my birthday... I forgot people would come to congratulate me'.

I opened the door and the small girl jumped on me, tackling me to the ground much to her parent's shame.

"An-chan".

"Ray-kun! Happy birthday!"

"Happy birthday!"

The three of them hugged me separately. It is my best friend from elementary school whom I have known for four years, Yamada Anna and her parents, Sanae and Yuki. It is not far-fetched to say she's the only close friend I have. My mother and her parents also get along well.

"How come?"

"We went for a family outing to look at the lunar eclipse and Anna-chan remembered today is your birthday. Look, we brought you some presents".

They had a small bag with three gifts neatly packed up. 

"Thank you!"

I accepted them with gratitude, it is not the first time it has happened. For the past years consecutively it is always them and some of my mother's colleagues giving me gifts.

"Reina-san?" They asked. 

"My mom was tired so she went to sleep a bit earlier, we had something more private. Would you like me to tuck some carrot cake and paella for you?"

'Oh my such a sweet and polite kid!'

I could see a light flash in the eyes of both Sanae and Yuki when looking at Anna and me. 

"Oh, if you wouldn't mind we would like some!"

"Then please come in, I'll serve you drinks real quick".

"Anna, go and help him".

"H-Hai!"

The family of three entered the house, Anna walked with me towards the kitchen while Sanae and Yuki headed into the living room to wait as usual, they had been in the house before so they knew how to make themselves at home. 

!!!

The moment I entered the kitchen it was like an abrupt and panicky realisation struck me.

'Oh shit I forgot!'

"Sorry!"

I rushed towards the entrance of the living room before they could enter, surprising them.

"Uh?"

"Could you come with me to the kitchen instead of the living room? It is a bit untidy you see, I wouldn't want to show such a horrible sight hehehe".

My mom's juices are all over the sofa! They're going to know!

"Oh, it is not an issue, we're used to it Ray-kun, don't mind us".

"Please I insist! I would hate to show a bad face to my best friend's parents".

"Ray-kun… if you insist… it's almost as if you're treating us like your in-laws~"

!!!

"Mom!" It was Anna who pulled her mom's sleeves cutely with an aggrieved and blushed face, I know what sort of narrative they're trying to push here but my goodness right now is not the moment.

They followed me to the kitchen; I put some cake and paella in the containers for them and opened the presents. One was a package of an expensive brand of pencils from Sanae-san. Then from Yuki-san, I got a set of tennis rackets. This... I have never played tennis but thank you I guess.

These are actually… quite pricey gifts… but I won't say anything since Mom always gifts expensive things to Anna on her birthday too, her last 10th years birthday she got a Gucci bag that she doesn't even use because they were afraid she could get stolen walking down the road.

Lastly, Anna's gift to me.

"This is mine. Matching pendants… you can put it in your bag and we will be the same when the next semester starts~"

"I will".

I hugged her and she hugged me back. In my past life, I had childhood friends, in this life... it is just Anna. This girl is starting to develop feelings for me... her parents support it, but I just can't entertain that thought yet, I'm not a kid in a kid's body... and I think about Elysir every day too. 

"I like you Ray-kun".

"Eh?"

"I mean as friends! I like you as my best friend!"

"Don't just friend zone me for no reason…"

"Hehe~ just for now".

"…"

"Did you watch the eclipse?"

"I didn't… I was looking at a movie with my mom".

"Uh? What movie?"

"Ummm… Power Rangers, she bought the latest of the power ranges for us to watch".

"Ray-kun you're such a kid~"

'I don't want to hear that from you!'

If I tell them the movie we watched they're gonna think mom is irresponsible.

"Anyway, it was nice to come. What are you going to do for the rest of the day?" Sanae-san, the mother, asked me although she was sending a few subtle glints towards the living room. She knows something is not right but I just hope she only has suspicions and not certainties. 

I don't even care if she thinks my mom is a secret drunkard, so long as it is just in her imagination. 

"I'm just going to watch TV or something, I feel a bit tired too, to be honest".

"Then I'll leave you this".

She started dropping snacks out of her pockets like she was doing magic. I'm already used to her... I don't know how she can be so cute and beautiful when she eats so many snacks daily... of all types and forms, she even forces me to eat them too.

"Snacks?"

"They're half of my batch. Hmph! Be grateful".

"I am I am…"

"I wouldn't give it to you if I didn't like you".

"I know… I like you too An-chan".

She blushed slightly and kissed me once on the cheek before heading out with her parents, struggling to utter a few words.

"I'll come again tomorrow… we can go out and play in the Hanami Festival" she invited me, classes start in about a month so there's no problem.

"I would love that!"

"Then good night!"

"Good night!~"